The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh hosted the world leading scientific congress over two days of sessions, with experts in attendance from The R&A, Ladies European Tour, DP World Tour, G4D Tour, the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) and delegates from over 20 countries.

The conference shared insights on the health benefits of golf, with golfers enjoying a reduction in over 40 major chronic diseases, better well-being and length of life.

Dr Andrew Murray, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer for the DP World Tour and a Health Consultant with The R&A, was at the forefront of organising the event.

 

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Bigger than ever

“It was a Congress bigger than ever before, with more speakers too, which was fantastic,” said Murray, “It was a great opportunity to get together and then think about the health benefits of golf – how we can promote health through major events, how we can help people be at their best, maximising performance and decreasing illness and injury. Then it’s just about giving everyone the opportunity to play golf.

“I think everyone who attended is very passionate about golf and health, very knowledgeable as well, and I really enjoyed the two days.”

Stephen Gallacher, the Ryder Cup star and four-time DP World Tour winner, was among those who took part in the discussions as delegates learned about the mental fitness of competing at the highest level.

Gallacher, who played for 28 years on the DP World Tour, said, “The great thing about the conference was that it was all about golf, all about the positives of the sport for longevity of life. You can start at such a young age and you can still be playing at such a late age.

“It was important also to discuss how much the golfing world has changed, how much the health side has come into it. It’s changed a lot since I was a kid, like proper advice on nutrition, recovery and hydration. There is so much data and technology to plot their goals. As the home of golf in Scotland, it was also fitting to be in such a beautiful place to talk about it.”

Key topics

Attendees also delved into key topics like injury prevention and management, adaptations for disabled golfers, nutrition, strength and conditioning. Research presented from Finland, Sweden and Scotland highlighted that:

• Golf can provide health enhancing physical activity for people of all ages
• Regular physical activity achieved through golf can help prevent and treat more than 40 major chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, depression, anxiety and dementia
• Golf also promotes mental well-being, social connections and connection with nature
• Golf has additional benefits compared to walking

Fantastic opportunity

Maree Todd, Sport Minister at the Scottish Government, said, “Regular physical activity and participation in sport is one of the best things you can do for physical, mental and social health. The Congress was a fantastic opportunity to share knowledge and experience, to celebrate what golf is accomplishing and to understand barriers to participation and how we can work to remove them.”

Dr Julia Kettinen, researcher and Golf Exercise Medicine Specialist, added, “Our research highlights that golf can help people achieve the physical activity they need. Golf also kept senior golfers active during the pandemic and supported their quality of life.

“Even a single 18-hole round can offer significant cardiovascular and cognitive benefits, particularly for older adults, compared to regular walking. Globally, more and more people are playing golf – over 100 million now – which is great for both individuals and populations.”

Improving mental health

Although there is compelling evidence of mental health and wellbeing benefits through golf and other sports, life as a professional athlete can be incredibly demanding, with pressure to perform, much time away from friends and family, and at times intense and unwanted scrutiny in social media and in the media.

The golfing industry has recognised these challenges, and conducted research with the players to implement mental health and well-being toolkits, emergency action plans, mind gyms, and a network of specialists for the players, collaborating with tennis and Formula 1 experts who also have intensive travel schedules.

Dr Phil Hopley, Consultant Psychiatrist at Cognacity, who has been instrumental as Mental Fitness Coach with the McLaren F1 Team on their journey from midfielders to World Champions said, “I felt honoured to be at the conference.

“We’ve all got mental health, but it changes sometimes across the course of a week, sometimes during the course of the day. So we can be flourishing or can be mentally well, or we can be struggling a bit, have a mental health problem or a mental disorder.

Collaborative work

“There are so many mental and physical benefits to participating in sport, and we know how important the mind is to being at your best, be that on the Formula 1 track, playing in the Champions League, playing in a golf major or just in life in general.

“Cognacity are delighted to be working with The R&A and the DP World Tour providing psychology and mental fitness support to players, caddies and Tour staff. The untimely passing of top professional golfer Grayson Murray last year was a painful reminder of how challenging life on Tour can be. That is why the collaborative work that golf is prioritising with IOC mental health experts and the provision of industry leading facilities like the Mental Fitness Centre at the Dubai Desert Classic is so important.”

Alyson Mckechin, Head of Golf It! in Glasgow, was also among the speakers in the impressive surroundings of the Royal College, fresh from recently winning Coach of the Year at the Scottish Golf Awards.

Gallacher, the founder of the Stephen Gallacher Foundation which continues to blossom, summed the sessions up. “Our mission is to help and encourage golfers to live a healthy life and enjoy their golf,” he added. “This scientific Congress coming to Scotland was great as it helps us understand the health benefits, hear about how golf is even being prescribed now in Scotland and further afield, and also look at supporting the mental health of players.

“I have had some incredible highs like winning in Dubai, India and Scotland, and being on the winning side at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, but life in professional sport can be lonely and tough, so the work on mental health is so important”.

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Pathways created to the DP World Tour and eight global Tours

The DP World Tour, The R&A and the PGA TOUR have today launched the Global Amateur Pathway – powered by the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) – to help the very best male amateur players take the next step in their careers.

The landmark initiative creates a pathway for non-collegiate amateur players on to the DP World Tour and partner Tours around the world. The Global Amateur Pathway will complement PGA TOUR University – which awards membership on PGA TOUR-sanctioned Tours to the top Division-I college golfers at the end of the NCAA Championship – to ensure opportunities are available for elite players across the amateur ranks.

Under the Global Amateur Pathway, the best eligible non-collegiate male amateur within the top 20 of the WAGR® will receive a DP World Tour card for the following season. WAGR® comprises a women’s ranking and a men’s ranking for elite amateur players and is offered by The R&A and the USGA as a global service to golf. Players competing in Global Amateur Pathway eligible championships earn points equivalent to the number of points awarded by WAGR®.

The Global Amateur Pathway strengthens, and demonstrates the benefits of, the Strategic Alliances forged by the DP World Tour to provide global player pathways. As such, further exemptions will be available on the European Challenge Tour – part of the European Tour Group – while the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR are working with seven further partner Tours, within their respective governance process and timelines, to finalise their participation. The first Global Amateur Pathway Ranking Period will conclude on 13 October 2024 and the first exemptions will be awarded for the 2025 season.

Several current PGA TOUR and DP World Tour members would have benefited if the Global Amateur Pathway had previously existed. Players such as Tommy Fleetwood (Southport, England), Hideki Matsuyama (Ehime, Japan) and Min Woo Lee (Perth, Australia) were accomplished amateurs who relied on sponsor exemptions to begin their professional careers. Fleetwood was runner-up at the 2008 Amateur Championship and represented GB&I at the 2009 Walker Cup; Matsuyama was a two-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and became the first Japanese male to rise to No. 1 in WAGR®; and Lee made two appearances in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, including a tied third finish in 2017, and represented Australia at the 2018 World Amateur Team Championship, where he finished T6.

The Global Amateur Pathway would have provided these players with professional tour membership and a clear path forward as they worked toward careers on the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour.

Guy Kinnings, DP World Tour Chief Executive, said, “We are delighted to offer the very best amateur players new opportunities through the Global Amateur Pathway, alongside our partners at The R&A and PGA TOUR.

“This initiative is the perfect example of the benefits that come from the Strategic Alliances and partnerships that we have forged across the game of golf. The very best amateur players now have similar opportunities to their professional counterparts, with clear pathways across the globe to ultimately compete at the pinnacle of the game.

“This complements the opportunities for collegiate players via PGA TOUR University, and there is no better example of the benefits of that programme than young European Ryder Cup star Ludvig Aberg, who has grasped every opportunity that has come his way with both hands.

“Our thanks go to The R&A and PGA TOUR, and to each of the Tours who are coming together to make this dream a reality for the next generation of amateur players.”

Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said, “We are delighted to work in partnership with the DP World Tour and the PGA TOUR to launch the Global Amateur Pathway.

“We care deeply about amateur golf and developing pathways for the most talented players from different regions of the world is one of our fundamental priorities. It is key to the sustainable future of the sport.

“We continue to create opportunities for elite amateurs to compete at the highest level through our leading amateur championships and the Global Amateur Pathway provides the players with a route to the professional ranks. We look forward to watching them progress in their careers and will now explore the opportunities to introduce a similar pathway in the women’s game.”

“We are thrilled to partner with the DP World Tour and The R&A to take another step forward in strengthening the pathway for amateur athletes as they transition to professional golf,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Building on the success of PGA TOUR University over the last four years, the Global Amateur Pathway will ensure the best young players from around the world can earn their way onto golf’s biggest stages more efficiently than ever before.”

To be eligible for the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking, amateur golfers must meet the following criteria:

• Not be a current NCAA Division-I player.
• Be at least 20 years of age by the end of the calendar year of the relevant Ranking Period.
• Be within the top 200 WAGR®.
• Players who are outside the top 200 WAGR® by the end of the Registration Period who then move into the top 100 WAGR® at any time prior to the conclusion of the Late Registration Period in the relevant season.

The Global Amateur Pathway Ranking – based on the WAGR® – will be published every week on the Global Amateur Pathway page following the registration period, with qualification ending on 13 October 2024. The Ranking is designed to identify and rank elite male amateur players (excluding NCAA Division-I collegiate players) competing in eligible tournaments based on their average performance in those tournaments.

For more information please visit RANDA.ORG

The top two players on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) had a final day showdown in the sun over the Duchess Course with Popert’s closing two-over-par 74 securing a winning total of one-over 217.

Englishman Popert, who has cerebral palsy, was edged out by Lawlor in last year’s inaugural Championship but this time the 25-year-old prevailed to secure a tenth G4D Tour title.

Ireland’s Lawlor, who has a rare condition called Ellis–van Creveld syndrome, put up a stout defence but was made to rue mistakes as he finished with a four-over 76 for 218.

Canadian Chris Willis was third on six-over 222 with the Australian pair of Wayne Perske and Lachlan Wood a stroke further back.

Lawlor, 27, held a slender one-shot lead overnight and doubled his advantage in the glorious conditions with a birdie at the opening hole. He found trouble on both par-3s on the front nine, taking a double bogey on the 2nd and the 7th, allowing Popert to lead by one after his birdie on the 8th.

But Popert had difficulties of his own on the demanding par-4 9th for a double bogey, with Lawlor also dropping a shot to leave them both at one-over heading into the back nine.

Popert’s birdie at the 10th and Lawlor’s back-to-back bogeys saw the world’s best player go three clear. A bogey from the leader at the next and brilliant birdies from Lawlor at the 15th and 16th suddenly brought the duo back level, before the world number two caught his approach shot heavy at the 17th which led to an untimely bogey. Popert coolly holed from two feet for a winning par at the last.

Established last year, the Championship – held in partnership between The R&A and the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA (formally the European Disabled Golf Association) – is one of the most inclusive ever staged.

The G4D Open featured nine sport classes across multiple impairment groups, with 80 men and women players of both amateur and professional status, aged 15-68, representing 19 countries.

With Popert the Men’s Champion, Dutch player Daphne van Houten – the leading woman at 25th on the WR4GD – was crowned the Women’s Champion. Van Houten, 25, who suffers from scoliosis, finished 17 shots clear of England’s Aimi Bullock.

Both men’s and women’s winners were presented with new trophies to reflect the multiple threads woven among the players on their journeys to compete in The G4D Open.

A gross prize was also awarded in each sport class, covering various categories in Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting.

The men’s gross prize winners were as follows:

• Intellectual 1: Cameron Pollard, Australia
• Intellectual 2: Thomas Blizzard, England
• Standing 1: Juan Postigo Arce, Spain
• Standing 2: Kipp Popert, England
• Standing 3: Brendan Lawlor, Ireland
• Sitting 1: Terry Kirby, England
• Sitting 2: Richard Kluwen, The Netherlands
• Visual 1: Paul O’Rahilly, Ireland
• Visual 2: John Eakin, England

The women’s gross prize winners were as follows:

• Intellectual 2: Erika Malmberg, Sweden
• Standing 1: Alessandra Donati, Italy
• Standing 2: Aimi Bullock, England
• Standing 3: Daphne van Houten, The Netherlands

Final scores from the sport classes can be viewed here.

Highlights from the Championship will be aired on Sky Sports Golf from Monday 27 May at 5pm and throughout that week.

The establishment of The G4D Open follows on from the inclusion of the Modified Rules of Golf for Players with Disability in the Rules of Golf and The R&A and USGA’s ongoing administration of the WR4GD.

Woburn continued its rich history of hosting amateur and professional championships with Final Qualifying for The Open from 2014 to 2017 and most recently the AIG Women’s Open in 2019, both played on the Marquess Course.

For more information please visit RANDA.ORG

The Grand Final of the Golf Sixes League, Abu Dhabi took place under the lights at the Yas Acres Golf Club on Saturday 20 April.

Novice juniors from golf clubs across Abu Dhabi were joined by those from the Emirates Golf Federation for a fun evening of competition. Playing across just six short holes, seven teams of six, paired up to compete in a two ball Texas Scramble stroke play format. The best two scores of the teams’ three pairs count towards their overall score.

After a fantastic evening of fun and good sportsmanship the team from Abu Dhabi City Golf Club emerged as the winners of Round four.

Following four rounds of the Golf Sixes League which commenced back in January, congratulations to Abu Dhabi City Golf Club who were crowned Overall Champions.

“Golf Sixes has been so fun! Playing golf with my friends and as a team was cool. I really want to play again next time!,” said Kristoff Davidson a ten year old golfer from Abu Dhabi City Golf Club.

“Kristoff has loved participating in Golf Sixes. The way the programme is designed, with the kids playing in teams, has really helped get them excited to play golf and made the whole experience less intimidating. Across the season you could see the kids golf improve and now my son is wanting to play more and more, ” said Kristoff’s Dad, Andrew Davidson.

Golf Sixes League is a development initiative, supported by The R&A and the Emirates Golf Federation, which introduces young people to golf in a fun and inclusive environment, along with an added competitive element. Our thanks to all the stakeholders including our host venues, Yas Links GC, Abu Dhabi City GC, Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and GC and Yas Acres GC, Team Managers, Golf Genius, Confederation of Professional Golf and Pro Sports International.

Round Four Results:

• 1st Abu Dhabi City Golf Club: +5
• 2nd Yas Links Golf Club: +8 (on countback)
• 3rd Saadiyat Beach Golf Club: +8

Nearest the Pin prize winners: Kristoff Davidson and Aaradyha Sharma

Final Overall Golf Sixes League Table:

• 1st Abu Dhabi City Golf Club: 50pts
• 2nd Saadiyat Beach Golf Club: 38pts
• 3rd Yas Links Golf Club: 35pts
• 4th Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club: 30pts
• 5th Yas Acres Golf Club: 26pts
• 6th Emirates Golf Federation: 17pts
• 7th Abu Dhabi Golf Club: 16pts

………………………

GSL’s continued expansion around the globe has been supported by The R&A, the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG], the Ryder Cup European Development Trust (RCEDT), DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour – the leading bodies aligning in support of a development initiative for the first time.

For more information on GolfSixes League please visit cp.golf/golfsixesleague

A pilot season of the successful GolfSixes League has launched in Abu Dhabi in a continuing drive to encourage young people into playing, enjoying and remaining in the sport.

Golf Sixes League is a development initiative which introduces young people to golf in a fun and inclusive environment, along with an added competitive element.

The Abu Dhabi based GolfSixes League will see seven squads of 12 players, who rotate a team of six during each round, compete in a two ball Texas scramble stroke play format across six holes. The best two scores of the three pairs will count toward the team score.

The League will take place on three dates from January to March, with team winners declared after each round and an overall champion decided at the Grand Final in April.

The pilot season is a collaboration between The R&A and the Emirates Golf Federation, which will field a team in the League alongside those from Yas Links Golf Club, Yas Acres Golf Club, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Abu Dhabi Golf Club and the Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club.

Neal Graham, Regional Development Manager – Middle East & India at The R&A, said, “GolfSixes League is a proven development initiative which encourages new golfers into the sport in a fun and competitive way. It allows young people to bring their new found skills from the lesson tee onto the course in an encouraging and inclusive team environment.

“Golf in the Middle East continues to grow and we are aiming to sustain this momentum by adopting initiatives that have been successful in other regions around the world. We hope the introduction of GolfSixes League to Abu Dhabi will deliver similar results for golf participation in the state as we have seen in Great Britain and Ireland, Europe and Africa.”

General Abdulla Alhashmi, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, said, “The Emirates Golf Federation is delighted to be working with The R&A on the GolfSixes League in Abu Dhabi. We believe golf is a healthy activity for children and we support initiatives that encourage early adoption and long-term playing of the sport. We would also like to recognize and thank the golf clubs in Abu Dhabi for embracing the GolfSixes League and we hope your teams enjoy competing.”

The first round of the GolfSixes League took place on Saturday 27 January at Yas Links Golf Club on its Academy Course where the team from Abu Dhabi City Golf Club became the first winners.

Round two takes place on Tuesday 20 February at Abu Dhabi City Golf Club before Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club host the third round on Saturday 23 March.

The Grand Final will be played at Yas Acres Golf Club on Saturday 20 April where the first overall champions will be decided.

The GolfSixes League in Abu Dhabi is open to boys and girls of any age who are beginner golfers and do not hold a Handicap Index^®.

The expansion of Golf Sixes League into Abu Dhabi builds on the successful implementation of GolfSixes League in Europe by The R&A, the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG), the Ryder Cup European Development Trust (RCEDT), DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour.

GolfSixes League has also seen successful adoption across Great Britain and Ireland where it is administered by the Golf Foundation, England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf.

The shorter GolfSixes format continued to expand and introduce even more children following a successful pilot season in continental Europe. There are now 20 nations delivering GolfSixes League and GolfSixes Mini League, a marked increase from ten nations in 2022. Over 7,800 players took part at 660 participating clubs/facilities in 2023. In total, 43% of players became junior members in GB&I whilst being part of Golf Sixes League.

GolfSixes League is a proven pathway with 88% of children who took part in Great Britain and Ireland last year indicating they would like to play more golf as a result of participating in the programme.

For more information on GolfSixes League please visit cp.golf/golfsixesleague

According to new research undertaken by the governing body, there are now 39.6 million on-course golfers (9 and 18 hole) in R&A affiliated markets.

The research figures indicate that the growth trend began before the onset of Covid-19 and continued during the pandemic – up 34% from 29.6 million on-course golfers in 2016. The sport has since continued to increase in popularity post-pandemic, up 15% from 34.5 million on-course players in 2020.

The data is provided in a new Global Golf Participation Report, which, for the first time, collectively measures The R&A’s affiliated markets in Asia, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.

The report also highlights that 61.2 million adults (outside the USA and Mexico) engage with the sport in some format, which is the first time an estimate has been made beyond on-course activity to include alternative-only formats, such as par-3 golf, indoor simulator golf and driving range use.

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, “Golf’s popularity has surged in recent years, which is reflected in a notable increase in the number of people playing the sport in both traditional on-course and alternative formats.

“It is significant that ten million more golfers are playing on the course since 2016, but it is also important that millions of others are engaged in golf through many other alternative formats, such as driving ranges, which are so vital to the growth of the sport.

“It also underlines why effective and impactful participation programmes are important for encouraging more people into the sport and retaining them in greater numbers. We are working closely with our affiliated national federations and stakeholders within golf to sustain this momentum. We thank them for their efforts as we aim to ensure that golf is thriving for years to come.”

The top five on-course adult golfer markets overall in 2023 are in Japan (8.1 million), Canada (5.6 million), Republic of Korea (5.4 million), England (3.4 million) and Germany (2.1 million).

Asia is the leading region for people engaging with golf among R&A affiliated regions, with total adult engagement of 22.5 million. Europe is next highest with 21.1 million adult engagement.

Women make up almost a quarter of adult registered golfers in R&A affiliated markets worldwide, demonstrating the positive impact of initiatives focused on promoting greater diversity and inclusivity in golf.

The R&A is continuing its commitment to invest £200 million over ten years in developing golf, including sustained work to encourage participation by promoting the health benefits of the sport through a global campaign.

View The R&A’s Global Golf Participation Report here

At a time when record numbers are now playing golf worldwide, ‘Iona Investigates’ is a three-part series where Stephen learns how people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds are reaping the rewards of playing the sport.

Stephen speaks with famous faces from other sports – including former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland footballer Jason McAteer and ex-England cricket international James Taylor – leading medical professionals, fitness instructors and club golfers to understand how golf improves general fitness, eases stress and anxiety, and offers social interaction.

The first episode covers mental health and well-being, the second on physical health, and a final show on strength and balance.

“Working on this series has been a hugely rewarding experience,” said Stephen. “I’ve discovered more about golf’s wonderful health benefits and helped to highlight them by speaking to people from many different backgrounds.

“When I’m playing golf I feel uncomplicated, it’s like your mind is focusing on one objective – to get the ball from A to B. That focus brings you into a place of mindfulness and flow, where there isn’t space for the complications and pressures in our daily lives.

“Golf is for people who are busy working, who have young children, and for those who have retired with more time on their hands. Golf is for absolutely everyone, young and old, and wherever they are from and whatever they do.”

Former footballer McAteer has been instrumental in talking about mental health, especially for young people, and he outlines how he has used golf for his own benefit in recovering from depression.

McAteer, who has been playing golf for around 12 years, says, “Golf has been amazing, certainly from a mental health aspect. I was probably in a bad place when I finished playing football. It left a massive void and my mental health spiraled out of control. I was having a difficult time and I found golf. Golf probably saved my life.”

Taylor’s thriving cricket career was sadly cut short by a life-changing heart condition aged just 26 in 2016, but he also reveals how golf has since benefitted his physical and mental health.

“To have to retire when you are at the top of the game was incredibly hard to take – my life changed forever,” he admits. “The doctor in hospital told me I couldn’t exercise like I used to, but I could play golf. As soon as I took it up I was hooked, what a sport it is. Golf from then changed my life. It gave me a purpose, a technical challenge, the mental stimulation, the exercise and allows me to be competitive.”

St Andrews-based Stephen also tells her own story of coming late into golf and how the sport started to have a positive impact on her life after discovering Ranfurly Castle Golf Club when a student at The University of Glasgow.

In recent years, The R&A has strived to communicate golf’s health benefits to a global audience and underline the role the sport plays in health and social well-being.

Working with organisations such as the World Health Organization, the DP World Tour, other golf bodies and respected medical professionals such as Dr Andrew Murray, The R&A has been involved in various scientific research studies to make the sport more appealing to all.

Research has revealed that, on average, golfers live five years longer than non-golfers while golf, as a physical activity, can help prevent and treat 40 major chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart attacks, stroke, breast and colon cancer, depression and dementia.

View episode one of ‘Iona Investigates’ here.

The R&A has launched a new video series which has been created for junior golfers to learn about the Rules of Golf and improve their enjoyment of the sport by understanding how to apply them on the course.

The Rules Skool Open features ten episodes and each instalment follows the progress of featured player George Harper Jnr as he gets to grips with the Rules of Golf when faced with a number of different situations during the championship.

Claire Hargan of The R&A’s Rules team joins the commentary to explain how the Rules are applied in each situation while her colleague Conor Finlay becomes ‘Conor on Course’ to provide practical demonstrations for young golfers to build their knowledge and understanding of the Rules.

It premiered on The R&A YouTube channel on Wednesday and then available to watch via RandA.org and the Rules of Golf App from 5pm.

Rules fun

Grant Moir, Director – Rules at The R&A, said, “We have created an entertaining and light-hearted video series that introduces the Rules of Golf to a younger audience in a new and fun way which will help junior golfers learn the key Rules and how they are applied on the golf course.

“We know from research that most young people prefer to learn from watching videos and this series will support junior golfers in developing their understanding of the Rules, making them more confident out on the golf course and adding to their enjoyment of the sport.”

Viewers can test their knowledge of the Rules by answering quiz questions that accompany the videos via RandA.org and the Rules of Golf app.

Collaboration

The organisation is also collaborating with its affiliated national federations and other golf bodies to encourage junior golfers to watch the series and learn about the Rules of Golf. A digital pack which includes practical advice and resources for junior golf organisers is also provided via RandA.org.

The series was developed using research with junior golfers in which they provided feedback about their experience of learning about their hobbies, including golf, and their preferred methods to do so, with video being the most popular response. Over 75% of those who participated in the research also said it was very or extremely important to know the basics of the Rules.

Rules Week

The launch of the Rules Skool Open is a highlight of The R&A’s Rules Week which is running across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube this week at a time in the year when the governing body would normally be staging the globally attended Tournament Administrators and Referees School in St Andrews.

The Rules Week includes video interviews with leading Rules officials including David Rickman, Andy McFee and John Paramor. It also features a player’s perspective on the Rules from two-time Open champion Padraig Harrington and the story of the now-famous Rules situation encountered by 2017 Champion Golfer Jordan Spieth at the 13^th hole during the final round of The 146^th Open at Royal Birkdale.

RECEIVE FUTURE CPG NEWS

VISIT THE JUNIOR RULES PAGE

The first ever Golf and Health Week will take place from 15-19 April and will aim to encourage golfers, non-golfers and lapsed golfers into taking part in the sport.

A number of health-related themes will be promoted during the week of the campaign, including:

• Monday 15 April: Fitness – professionals and amateurs
• Tuesday 16 April: Mental health (including dementia)
• Wednesday 17 April: Disability golf
• Thursday 18 April: Golf for everyone – featuring various health projects (e.g. Parkinson’s, loneliness, stroke and other programmes that can benefit health)
• Friday 19 April: Club level – focus at golf clubs (e.g. fitness, food, drink, gym classes)

The collaborative campaign will run across digital and social media channels using the hashtag #GolfHealthWeek and include content focused on highlighting the physical and mental health benefits of playing golf and projects being delivered by golf bodies and clubs.

Focusing primarily on Great Britain and Ireland, it will be co-ordinated by The R&A with the support of the European Tour, the Ladies European Tour, The Professional Golfers’ Association and the Golf Foundation, as well as national associations including England Golf, Scottish Golf, Wales Golf, the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union.

A number of other organisations have expressed interest in supporting the week, including EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association), the Confederation of Professional Golf and Golf Australia.

The campaign is also to be backed by professional golfers including Annika Sorenstam, Brooke Henderson, Padraig Harrington and Zach Johnson, who are ambassadors for the Golf and Health Project.

The dedicated week builds on the work of the Golf and Health Project, which since 2016 has studied the many and varied health and wellbeing benefits of golf, considered any risks and had research published regularly in international, peer-reviewed journals.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “It is important that we continue to promote golf as an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities and demonstrate that playing golf can provide significant benefits for the health and wellbeing of those who participate in the sport.

“We are working closely with our affiliated national associations and partners to produce an engaging and inspiring campaign which will drive interest in playing the sport and encourage people to take advantage of the health benefits that golf can bring.”

To drive interest and encourage activity in the days before the dedicated week, golfers will be asked to tweet their steps achieved and calories burned from any golf they play, again using #GolfHealthWeek. The week then finishes on Good Friday at club level, with golfers to be encouraged to head for the fairways over the Easter holiday weekend.

Last year, a global consensus amongst leaders in public health, public policy and sport backed golf in the race to tackle physical inactivity and the prevention of illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer of the breast and colon.

Evidence linking golf and health, commissioned by the World Golf Foundation and supported by The R&A, was presented at Westminster following research led by the University of Edinburgh and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Previous research has also highlighted that those that play golf live five years longer than those that don’t play, while the sport has been shown to have self-esteem and self-worth benefits.

Find out More @ RandA.org

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Launched last May in London, the Charter set out to inspire an industry-wide commitment to developing a more inclusive culture within golf globally. It is designed to encourage actions that enable more women and girls to flourish and maximise their potential within the golf industry at all levels.

Over 100 organisations have committed to the #WomenInGolfCharter since its launch last May🏌️‍♀️

Find out how you can help The R&A’s drive to increase the number of women and girls participating in our sport👉 https://t.co/v8fRCFZv4R ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/2l7E78yNhB

— The R&A (@RandA) February 13, 2019

To date, 107 organisations have given their commitment to the Charter, pledging to build on current initiatives and develop new projects to increase the number of women, girls and families playing golf and becoming members of clubs, as well as giving women wider opportunities to enjoy careers and volunteering in the sport.

These include national federations such as Golf Canada – which held its inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit last year linked to the staging of the CP Women’s Open – Golf Australia; New Zealand Golf; the Italian Golf Federation; England Golf; Scottish Golf; and Wales Golf.

Other organisations who have adopted the Charter include the PGA TOUR; the European Tour; the Ladies’ European Tour; the Professional Golfers’ Association; the Golf Foundation; the Confederation of Professional Golf; the European Disabled Golf Association; the ANNIKA Foundation; IMG; VisitScotland and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf.

Mastercard, the official card of The Open, is also the first R&A Patron to sign up. Various other organisations offering their support include the Association of Golf Writers and GOLFNOW.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are encouraged by the number of organisations who have recognised the importance of the Charter for the sport and pledged their support.

“It is a positive start but we need an industry-wide commitment to the Charter and support for measures that will foster a more inclusive culture within the sport and enable women and girls to reach their full potential.”

While achieving the commitment of national federations and organisations was one of the first aims of the Charter, the process for clubs and regional bodies to sign up is also now gathering pace.

Conwy, which will stage the 2020 Curtis Cup in Wales, is the first golf club to sign up to the Charter.

Boldon, based in Tyne & Wear, is the first English club to sign, followed by commitments from Open venues Royal Portrush, St Andrews Links Trust and Carnoustie Golf Links.

Fulford, venue for the Girls Under 16 Amateur Championship, has also committed, along with The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Blairgowrie, North Berwick and Royal Dornoch.

“Gaining the support of national associations and organisations was the first phase of our plan,” added Slumbers. “We have also worked closely with them to collectively agree a process to support individual clubs in adopting the Charter and gain real momentum.

“The national body is the point of contact and will directly liaise with clubs in determining commitments to the Charter should a club wish to become a signatory.

“We would like national associations, with the involvement of clubs, to set targets for participation and membership as we look to increase the number of women, girls and families playing the sport.”

Overview of Women and Girls developments in 2018

• In 2018, The R&A provided an initial three-year funding package of £375,000 to its affiliates in Australia, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to support the appointment of new development managers to work on increasing participation by women and girls
• The funding is part of The R&A’s plans to increase its overall investment in women’s, girls’ and mixed golf to £80 million over the next ten years, with the Charter underpinning this work
• In Ireland, junior girls’ membership was up nearly 1%, as was overall female membership – the first time the Irish Ladies’ Golf Union (ILGU) has seen an overall growth in membership since 2008. The Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) and the ILGU recently agreed to form a new body, known as Golf Ireland
• Within England Golf, participation among women and girls increased from 15% to 17%, while the Girls Golf Rocks programme grew from 15 counties and 72 clubs in 2017 to 21 counties and 98 clubs for 2018
• Across Great Britain and Ireland, over 25,000 women and girls from over 1,100 clubs played in The R&A’s 2018 Coronation Foursomes
• In February 2018, Golf Australia’s plan to challenge female participation was launched – ‘Vision 2025: The future of women and girls in golf’
• New Zealand Golf has expanded investment into She Loves Golf – an initiative aimed at changing the perception of golf for women and inspiring participation
• Oman Golf launched a ‘Go Ladies’ beginner programme to illustrate the global appeal of the Charter in developing countries
• The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association has launched a ‘Women in Turf Care’ programme to encourage more female greenkeepers
• The Professional Golfers’ Associations’ #WeLoveGolf campaign and TopGolf teamed up to drive women’s interest in trying out golf, with almost 100 women having the chance to hit their first golf ball in a fun and friendly environment
• Mastercard will partner with The R&A across various areas, including STEM Education to develop an evergreen golf version of their Girls4Tech proprietary curriculum that inspires girls to pursue careers in STEM
• Syngenta, one of the first organisations to sign up to the Charter, is taking actions centred around research, diversity and growing the game, particularly around boosting psychological well-being through golf
• A new and engaging golf campaign, aimed specifically at encouraging more women to travel to Scotland to play golf, was recently announced by VisitScotland. The #HerScotland campaign will be used to help raise awareness of The 2019 Solheim Cup
• On the European Tour, men and women competed side-by-side in 2018. The Trophée Hassan II and Lalla Meryem Cup were held simultaneously at the same venue in Morocco, while Georgia Hall, Charley Hull, Mel Reid, Carlota Ciganda and Catriona Matthew competed in the second edition of GolfSixes, the latter alongside Thomas Bjørn in a ‘Captains’ Team.’
• In addition, the men’s and women’s competitions ran side-by-side in the Vic Open in Australia last week. Furthermore, the European Tour is actively pursuing initiatives to enhance and promote diversity in their workforce.

Find out More @ RandA.org

Evidence linking golf and health, commissioned by the World Golf Foundation and supported by The R&A, was presented this week in London at the 7th Congress of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH). The biennial scientific meeting is widely regarded as the world’s flagship physical activity and public health event attended by more than 1,000 delegates from 60 countries.

Recognition that playing golf has significant physical health and wellness benefits and can provide moderate intensity physical activity to persons of all ages, comes just months after the World Health Organization (WHO) published its Global Action Plan for Physical Activity. The Global Action Plan targets one in four adults, and four out of five adolescents (11-17 years) who are insufficiently active and charts how countries can reduce physical inactivity in adults and adolescents by 15% through 2030.

The scientific consensus for golf is evidenced in research led by the University of Edinburgh and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Findings reveal that playing golf is associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits, and further collaborative efforts to improve access for the sport are needed.

New studies are underway to discover if playing golf improves strength and balance, contributing to a key public health goal of fall prevention in healthy aging and into conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

Marking the close of the ISPAH Congress, public health practitioners, policymakers and golf industry leaders were hosted at a satellite event in the Palace of Westminster by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf.

Steve Brine MP, UK Minister for Public Health and Primary Care said, “Governments need active partners in sport to help reduce the levels of physical inactivity that are evident in society today and it gratifying to see that golf is using its global presence to make a difference.

“Golf has various health benefits for people of all ages and I look forward to working with golf, other sports and stakeholders to help get more people, more active, more often.”

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “Golf is working hard to encourage more people into the sport who will realise its many health benefits. With 60 million golfers spanning six continents, golf has found common purpose in working with public health practitioners and policymakers to optimise the health benefits of playing the sport.

“We recognise the importance of the WHO Global Action Plan for Physical Activity and we will work with our affiliates and partners around the world to help improve health and well-being through golf”.

Professor Fiona Bull, WHO Programme Manager, Non-Communicable Disease Prevention said, “NCD is responsible for nearly three quarters of all premature deaths globally, including 15 million deaths per year in people aged 30 to 70 years.

“The new WHO global action plan and the implementation toolkit ‘ACTIVE’ aims to help all countries improve the environments and the opportunities for all people to be more active. Golf is a popular sport for men and women and it is great to see golf’s global leadership recognising health priorities and identifying ways golf can be more accessible to more people. I took up golf in my 30’s but thought it was a very technical, expensive and elitist sport.

“Thankfully a 6 week ‘come and try course’ showed me how easy it was to enjoy golf as a beginner and how active playing 9 holes can be!” I am looking forward to seeing how golf can attract many more girls and women to enjoy the sport and be more active and healthy”.

Annika Sorenstam, Major Champion and a global ambassador for golf and health said, “As the recent international consensus statement highlighted, golf is great for your health for people of all ages – playing the sport and even spectating. Given the health benefits, we must work together to make golf more accessible if we are to achieve our sport’s full potential.”

The 2018 International Consensus Statement on Golf and Healthto guide action by people, policymakers and the golf industry was published last month in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

A further Golf and Health Scientific Meeting will be held at Mytime Active, High Elms Golf Course, Bromley on Thursday 18 October 2018, a club promoting healthy lifestyles. Researchers from Asia, Australia, Europe and the USA will discuss their respective projects and the future direction of research on golf and health.

Find out More @ www.golfandhealth.org

The R&A and the USGA finalised golf’s new Rules this month after an extensive review that included a request for feedback from the global golf community on the proposed changes. Golfers can now access the official 2019 Rules of Golf by visiting RandA.org or usga.org/rules.

The process to modernise the Rules began in 2012 and was initiated to ensure that the Rules are easier to understand and apply for all golfers and to make the game more attractive and accessible for newcomers.

While the majority of proposed Rules remain intact in the final version, several important changes to the initial proposals and further clarification of many Rules were incorporated. The most significant adjustments made following review of the feedback received from golfers around the world include:

• Dropping procedure: When taking relief (from an abnormal course condition or penalty area, for example), golfers will now drop from knee height. This will ensure consistency and simplicity in the dropping process while also preserving the randomness of the drop. (Key change: the proposed Rules released in 2017 suggested dropping from any height).
• Measuring in taking relief: The golfer’s relief area will be measured by using the longest club in his/her bag (other than a putter) to measure one club-length or two club-lengths, depending on the situation, providing a consistent process for golfers to establish his/her relief area. (Key change: the proposed Rules released in 2017 suggested a 20-inch or 80-inch standard measurement).
• Removing the penalty for a double hit:  The penalty stroke for accidentally striking the ball more than once in the course of a stroke has been removed. Golfers will simply count the one stroke they made to strike the ball.  (Key change: the proposed Rules released in 2017 included the existing one-stroke penalty).
• Balls Lost or Out of Bounds: Alternative to Stroke and Distance:  A new Local Rule will now be available in January 2019, permitting committees to allow golfers the option to drop the ball in the vicinity of where the ball is lost or out of bounds (including the nearest fairway area), under a two-stroke penalty. It addresses concerns raised at the club level about the negative impact on pace of play when a player is required to go back under stroke and distance. The Local Rule is not intended for higher levels of play, such as professional or elite level competitions. (Key change:  this is a new addition to support pace of play)

David Rickman, Executive Director – Governance at The R&A, said, “We are pleased to be introducing the new Rules of Golf after a collaborative and wide-ranging review process which has embraced the views of golfers, rules experts and administrators worldwide. We believe that the new Rules are more in tune with what golfers would like and are easier to understand and apply for everyone who enjoys playing this great game.”

 “We’re thankful for the golfers, administrators and everyone in the game who took the time to provide us with great insight and thoughtful feedback,” said USGA Senior Director of Rules & Amateur Status, Thomas Pagel. “We couldn’t be more excited to introduce the new Rules ahead of their education and implementation.”

Major proposals introduced in 2017 that have been incorporated into the modernised Rules include:

• Elimination or reduction of “ball moved” penalties: There will be no penalty for accidentally moving a ball on the putting green or in searching for a ball; and a player is not responsible for causing a ball to move unless it is “virtually certain” that he or she did so.
• Relaxed putting green rules: There will be no penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits an unattended flagstick in the hole; players may putt without having the flagstick attended or removed. Players may repair spike marks and other damage made by shoes, animal damage and other damage on the putting green and there is no penalty for merely touching the line of putt.
• Relaxed rules for “penalty areas” (currently called “water hazards”): Red and yellow-marked penalty areas may cover areas of desert, jungle, lava rock, etc., in addition to areas of water; expanded use of red penalty areas where lateral relief is allowed; and there will be no penalty for moving loose impediments or touching the ground or water in a penalty area.
• Relaxed bunker rules: There will be no penalty for moving loose impediments in a bunker or for generally touching the sand with a hand or club. A limited set of restrictions (such as not grounding the club right next to the ball) is kept to preserve the challenge of playing from the sand; however, an extra relief option is added for an unplayable ball in a bunker, allowing the ball to be played from outside the bunker with a two-stroke penalty.
• Relying on player integrity: A player’s “reasonable judgment” when estimating or measuring a spot, point, line, area or distance will be upheld, even if video evidence later shows it to be wrong; and elimination of announcement procedures when lifting a ball to identify it or to see if it is damaged.
• Pace-of-play support: Reduced time for searching for a lost ball (from five minutes to three); affirmative encouragement of “ready golf” in stroke play; recommending that players take no more than 40 seconds to play a stroke and other changes intended to help with pace of play.

Presented in digital, text-based form today, the new Rules will also now be translated into more than 30 languages and readied for final delivery via print and digital formats, including searchable Rules of Golf official apps developed by The R&A and the USGA.

Three important publications, to be distributed in September, will help players as well as officials and provide interpretation and guidance in how the Rules are applied:

• The Player’s Edition of the Rules of Golf: An abridged, user-friendly set of the Rules with shorter sentences, commonly used phrases, and diagrams. Written in the “second person,” The Player’s Edition is intended to be the primary publication for golfers.
• The Rules of Golf: The full edition of the Rules will be written in the third person and include illustrations. It is intended to be a more thorough version of the revised Rules.
• The Official Guide to the Rules of Golf: This “guidebook” replaces the Decisions book and will contain information to best support committees and officials. It includes interpretations on the Rules, committee procedures (available local rules and information on establishing the terms of the competition), and the Modified Rules of Golf for Players with Disabilities. It is a comprehensive resource document intended as a supplementary publication.

More than 30 “how-to apply” videos and a summary of the principal changes are now available at usga.org/rules.  Additional education tools will be released in September.

Players are reminded that the current edition of the Rules of Golf (2016) must be applied when playing, posting scores or competing for the remainder of 2018. The Rules of Amateur Status and the Rules of Equipment Standards were not part of this review process.

As an extension of their support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support The R&A and the USGA’s efforts to modernise golf’s Rules. The Swiss watchmaker’s contribution to excellence in golf is based on a rich heritage stretching back more than 50 years, forged through pivotal partnerships at every level of the game, from the sport’s leading professional and amateur competitions and organisations, to players at the pinnacle of their sport worldwide.

Find out More @ www.RandA.org

The two organisations have also established a working group of LPGA, PGA Tour, European Tour, Ladies European Tour and PGA of America representatives to immediately begin a comprehensive review of broader video issues that arise in televised competitions, including viewer call-ins.

New Decision 34-3/10 implements two standards for Rules committees to limit the use of video: 1) when video reveals evidence that could not reasonably be seen with the “naked eye” and 2) when players use their reasonable judgment to determine a specific location when applying the Rules. The full language of the Decision can be found here.

The first standard states “the use of video technology can make it possible to identify things that could not be seen with the naked eye.” An example includes a player who unknowingly touches a few grains of sand in taking a backswing with a club in a bunker when making a stroke.

If the committee concludes that such facts could not reasonably have been seen with the naked eye and the player was not otherwise aware of the potential breach, the player will be deemed not to have breached the Rules, even when video technology shows otherwise. This extends the provision from ball at rest moved cases, which was introduced in 2014 (Decision 18/4).

The second standard applies when a player determines a spot, point, position, line, area, distance or other location in applying the Rules and recognises that a player should not be held to the degree of precision that can sometimes be provided by video technology. Examples include determining the nearest point of relief, or replacing a lifted ball.

So long as the player does what can reasonably be expected under the circumstances to make an accurate determination, the player’s reasonable judgment will be accepted, even if later shown to be wrong by the use of video evidence.

Both of these standards have been extensively discussed as part of the Rules modernisation initiative and The R&A and the USGA have decided to enact this Decision immediately because of the many difficult issues arising from video review in televised golf.

The standards in the Decision do not change any of the current requirements in the Rules, as the player must still act with care, report all known breaches of the Rules and try to do what is reasonably expected in making an accurate determination when applying the Rules.

Video-related topics that require a deeper evaluation by the working group include the use of information from sources other than participants such as phone calls, email or social media and the application of penalties after a score card has been returned.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We have been considering the impact of video review on the game and feel it is important to introduce a Decision to give greater clarity in this area. Golf has always been a game of integrity and we want to ensure that the emphasis remains as much as possible on the reasonable judgment of the player rather than on what video technology can show.”

USGA Executive Director/CEO Mike Davis said, “This important first step provides officials with tools that can have a direct and positive impact on the game. We recognise there is more work to be done. Advancements in video technology are enhancing the viewing experience for fans but can also significantly affect the competition. We need to balance those advances with what is fair for all players when applying the Rules.”

The R&A and the USGA will consider additional modifications recommended by the working group for implementation in advance of 1 January 2019, when the new code resulting from the collaborative work to modernise golf’s Rules takes effect.

Find Out More @ www.RandA.org

The online release of this preview begins a six-month feedback and evaluation period during which all golfers worldwide can learn about the proposed changes and provide input before they are finalised in 2018 and take effect on 1 January 2019.

The announcement follows a comprehensive review process that began in 2012 with a working group of key R&A and USGA Rules administrators, professional tour officials and other Rules experts. While the Rules are revised every four years, this is the first fundamental review since 1984, and was established to ensure the Rules fit the needs of today’s game and the way it is played around the world.

Details of all the proposed changes and the opportunity to submit feedback online are available via www.RandA.org

Introduced last year, the review examines driving distance data from seven of the major professional golf tours, based on approximately 285,000 drives per year. Data from studies of male and female amateur golfers has also been included for the first time.

Key facts noted in the paper include:

• Between 2003 and the end of the 2016 season, average driving distance on five of the seven tours has increased by approximately 1.2%, around 0.2 yards per year.
• For the same time period, average driving distance on the other two tours studied decreased by approximately 1.5%.
• Looking at all of the players who are ranked for distance on the PGA TOUR and PGA European Tour, the amount by which players are “long” or “short” has not changed – for instance, since 2003 the 10 shortest players in that group are about 6% shorter than average, while the 10 longest players in the group are about 7% longer than average. The statistics are not skewed toward either longer or shorter players.
• The average launch conditions on the PGA TOUR – clubhead speed, launch angle, ball speed and ball backspin – have been relatively stable since 2007. The 90th-percentile clubhead speed coupled with the average launch angle and spin rate are very close to the conditions that The R&A and the USGA, golf’s governing bodies, use to test golf balls under the Overall Distance Standard.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “In the interests of good governance and transparency it is important that we continue to provide reliable data and facts about driving distance in golf.

“Driving distance remains a topic of discussion within the game and the review provides accurate data to help inform the debate.”

Mike Davis, Executive Director/CEO of the USGA, said, “We appreciate the collaboration we have received, industry-wide, to access and review this data to benefit the entire golf community, which can be used to both educate golfers and advance the game.”

The 2016 report can be viewed at www.RandA.org and www.usga.org or downloaded here 2016 Distance Report.pdf

The R&A and the USGA published the Joint Statement of Principles in May 2002, which confirmed their commitment to the fundamental notion that skill, not technology, should be the primary determinant of success in the game. The Joint Statement acknowledged the benefits of equipment technology for golf but noted that any further significant increases in hitting distances at the highest level were undesirable.

Since then, The R&A and the USGA have continued to monitor equipment technology’s effect on the game, and considered the effects of other factors, such as course set-up, athleticism and coaching. When appropriate, new Rules have been introduced after discussions with equipment manufacturers and other stakeholders, in accordance with the Equipment Rulemaking Procedures produced in 2011.

Click Here to Download the 2016 Distance Report [PDF]

Economic Performance

The course is your prime asset and you need to know what you are spending on its upkeep and where your money is going. The annual audit is usual practice for business. Keeping a record of income and expenditure is essential if the performance of the business is to be measured and analysed so that management can adjust practices to assure future prosperity.

The golf course can make up 70% or more of a golf facilities total expenditure and it is important that costs and revenue from course-related activity are tracked and reported on.  Club and course managers need to find a means of:

• Providing clear information to committees and boards
• Assessing where more money can be made and less spent
• Demonstrating the success of management practices
• Developing an even more efficient and effective programme

There are software programmes available to enable data recording and reporting, with the most basic being a simple spreadsheet.

On average, 60% of direct costs related to the course will be for staff. The greenstaff’s time is, therefore, precious and should not be wasted. Do you know where, on the course, the staff spend their time?

Surveys have shown that on some courses, up to 27% of staff time can be spent looking after bunkers! Are you able to prioritise time so that the areas golfers consider most important – the putting surfaces and green complexes – receive the most attention? See the real value from your staff by focusing their efforts on the areas of the course that will improve your business prospects.

Playing Performance

The performance of the golf business is directly related to the performance of the golf course.  The course is the primary asset for the business. So, why not audit the performance of the course in a similar way to that of the business?

If you can demonstrate that your management provides consistently good or improving performance of putting surfaces, then the club knows that it is investing wisely in the course and in you and your staff.  The following assessments should be undertaken on a regular basis:

• Holing Out Test. Records the final outcome of putting surface preparation – the reliability of the surface in terms of getting the ball in the hole.
• Smoothness and trueness. Available through the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) Programme.
• Firmness – a key measure when it comes to the receptiveness of surfaces, ball reaction on landing on the green and the year-round playability related to drainage.
• Trueness/smoothness – important to consider ways of reducing surface imperfections that interfere with the roll of the ball.
• Speed – useful to assess the consistency of putting surfaces, both through the year and between greens.

In addition to these playing performance criteria, there are critical agronomic measurements that, if assessed regularly, will inform turf management and ensure healthier turf and better playing performance – these are soil moisture and organic matter.

Target ranges can be set for all of the above, but these must be realistic and achievable within the confines of the site and available resources.

Environmental and Social Performance

The Course Management team need to keep a record of the inputs required to present the course to a good year-round standard, related to cost and playing performance targets.

Holding good information and reporting on water, pesticide, fertiliser and energy use and waste production are key elements for the golf course operation and also for justifying the course management programme in environmental and social impact terms. Golf facilities should be transparent in this regard to demonstrate that the game is a responsible user of land that does not pollute.

Beyond this, use of top dressing and other materials has an impact on budgets and the environment, be it directly related to the golf course or in terms of the supply chain and where these materials are sourced.

The Golf Environment Organization (GEO) OnCourse^® Programme provides an excellent means of recording and reporting on these aspects of sustainability performance.

Making Data Work For You

The R&A has produced a list of Evidence Fields, which is available from its website, randa.org. This is a list of financial, playing performance and greenkeeping practice data that needs to be collected and analysed if the performance of the golf course is to be monitored and improved.

Much of this data can be used to achieve environmental certification. The financial information can also be used to assess the benefits to the business of going through such a certification process.

Recording data is only of value if it is used for the benefit of the course and the business. Interpretation of results may require expert assistance, particularly with regard to the agronomic elements. The club management team must work together to get the best out of the golf facility and this has to reflect well on their contribution to the business.

This article appears courtesy of The R&A. For more information visit golfcoursemanagement.randa.org.